'Interested': Liverpool want to sign £126m player and he's really keen on move next summer - journalist
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Liverpool did not especially deliver what they needed to during the summer transfer window.
The Reds had several areas of the squad which could have really done with upgrading, namely in the midfield and centre of defence.
However, with sporting director Richard Hughes unwilling to compromise on the quality of player brought in, Liverpool bolstered neither position.
What the Reds did do, though, was sign Federico Chiesa to add extra firepower to Arne Slot’s attack.
On paper, the Liverpool head coach did not necessarily need an extra body up front, but who is going to argue about bringing in quality players who can score and create goals?
With that in mind, it has now been reported that once the summer of 2025 rolls around, Liverpool are looking to go big and boost their first-team squad with the arrival of yet another forward.
Liverpool interested in Florian Wirtz
Chiesa is yet to play any real part for Liverpool. The Italian made his debut off the bench against AC Milan on Tuesday, but was only on the pitch for a matter of minutes.
Since then, Slot has commentated on what he’s seen from Chiesa in training, and it looks like he could get some more game time soon.
Alongside the former Juventus winger, another Liverpool forward – Darwin Nunez – is struggling for minutes right now. But as Slot promises Nunez will get his chance, the Reds are apparently ploughing ahead with their next new attacker.
According to journalist Christian Falk, Liverpool are one of the sides interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz.
But, writing in his Fact Files column, the German reporter claims that Real Madrid are currently the favourites to sign Wirtz, who reportedly wants to leave Leverkusen in 2025.
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“Florian Wirtz made it very clear that he wants to make the next step in 2025,” says the journalist. “He has a contract now until 2027, so Leverkusen want a big fee for his services – €150m [£126m].
“That's a lot and obviously not every club can afford to pay this. The club leading the race for his signature is not an English one. It's Real Madrid.
“There's a big dream for Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to play together at Bayern,” adds Falk. “I don't think Real Madrid would be able to buy both players, whilst Bayern can only sign one.
“But, of course, he also fits other clubs like Manchester City. Liverpool are also interested and we talked about Manchester United not being in the race at the moment.”
Florian Wirtz move makes no sense for Liverpool
It has become clear that Wirtz is a tremendously talented footballer. Still only 21-years-old, he has already bagged five goals in six games for Leverkusen this season.
We wrote that Liverpool should have signed Wirtz as a Roberto Firmino replacement back at the start of 2022, but the Reds did not move at that time.
Since then, Liverpool have been relentlessly linked with Wirtz, but he has so far stayed loyal to Leverkusen.
While that looks like it might change in the coming months, it no longer makes much sense for the Reds to be in the mix.
Wirtz is a wonderful footballer, but given the options Liverpool currently have, we don’t see what position he takes up in Slot’s system. For the unbelievable amount quoted by Falk, the Reds could sign three quality players who they do actually need.
